Imagine what would happen when a hose burst in your boat. If you are fortunate, you will only have to deal with small electrical repairs. However, in some cases, a burst hose can end up causing fires or even sink your boat. Here are some tips on how you can choose the best hose for your boat.
What Application do you Need the Hose for?
Before you go on to choose a hose, you need to consider what you want to use it for. This will determine the length and type of hose to pick. Here are some common applications for boat hoses:
- Freshwater supply
- Drain hose
- Raw water hose
- Heavy-duty hose
What to Consider When Choosing a Boat Hose
When choosing a hose, you want to get one that has proper reinforcement in the walls. This will greatly improve the hose's strength and rigidity. A properly reinforced hose will also not collapse or expand easily under pressure. Some of the most common reinforcements are wire and yarn spirals. Most options for a heavy-duty hose will be properly reinforced.
Another thing you will also want to look at is the burst strength. This is very important for a heavy-duty hose. If you are looking for a boat hose to use as a discharge line, it needs to be able to resist pressure. This is what is known as burst strength, and it is measured using in pounds per square inch. Apart from the burst strength, you must also look at the vacuum rating. A boat hose that is used on the intake side must be able to withstand suction forces. The hose you choose must have a minimum vacuum rating of 20.
Other things to consider include temperature range, which is crucial for a hose used for engine cooling hose. This property is also important for hoses used in pressurized hot water systems.
FDA-Approval for Drinking Water Hoses
If you are choosing a hose to use in potable (drinking) water systems, you must ensure that you pick something that is safe. The hose must be manufactured using non-toxic materials. This way, you can ensure that your water is always safe to drink. You must also pick a hose that is corrosion-free. This ensures that you don't end up with contaminants in your water as well. Before you go out of town on a camping or boating trip, you must buy a hose certified for drinking water. These are usually white or blue, and you will find them at lengths ranging from 10 to 50 feet.
These are some of the tips that can help you to choose a boat hose. Apart from the factors listed above, it is also important to consider the inside diameter of your hose. This is very important, especially for a heavy-duty hose.
When you're choosing the best hose for your boat, don't forget these essential tools. Get the best heavy duty water hose options and RV marine hoses at Apex Hose today.
